http://www.fcgagric.com Description en-us Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:42:36 GMT info@fcgagric.com (FCG) info@fcgagric.com (FCG) http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20120201organicproductioncontinuestobemoreprofitable.htm So says the latest Organic Farm Incomes report for 2009-10. Across 6 sectors of English and Welsh farms, the organic farms had higher profits (Farm Business Income) than their conventional counterparts. This picture may come as a surprise to some but it is a continuation of a trend over at least the last 6 years, where on a like for like basis organic farms have been more profitable. The only real sector that has fared badly is the Horticultural sector which has been subject to large variations in income over the years. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20120201organicproductioncontinuestobemoreprofitable.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20120201UKMilkPrices.htm The analysis from Dairy Co suggests a rather more pessimistic outlook than from some other commentators. World markets show falling butter prices, and New Zealand has more milk for sale as demand from China weakens. Production in the EU will soon be moving towards its peak. Prices in December showed slightly weakening butter and SMP prices, while cheddar remained stable. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20120201UKMilkPrices.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20120201AchievingHighDairyCowFertility.htm High fertility rates are the key to maintaining tight block calving herds and thus profit levels. Tight blocks mean that you can manage the herd as one, have increased culling options other than for fertility reasons, an even mob of youngstock improving management and lower overall costs. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20120201AchievingHighDairyCowFertility.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20120201AccurateSoilSampling.htm The best time to take soil samples is between October and March on grassland. Ensure a gap of at least three months since P and K were applied. Ensure good soil conditions when sampling to get soil from the required 10cm depth. Correct depth will ensure accurate soil test results. The subsequent advice will only be as good as the soil test results on which the advice is based. Good sampling will ensure good representative results with financial benefits for you the farmer, either saving nutrients or getting increased output through better use of nutrients. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20120201AccurateSoilSampling.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20120201.htm Under the draft regulations for the latest round of CAP reform it is proposed that each farm will have to retain the level of permanent pasture it declares in the first year of the Scheme, possibly 2014. This has led farmers to consider ploughing out any surplus permanent pasture they have. Before ploughing you should consider: - info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20120201.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20120103progressinmaking2011sps.htm The RPA have announced that by the end of the first day of December, which was the first day of the Single Payment Scheme payment window, they had paid 84,600 claimants in England (80.80% of total) over £1.2 Billion (71.6% of the estimated fund). With payments continuing as claims are validated, the RPA say they are on course to reach their first target of 86% of eligible claimants receiving 78% of the estimated fund by the end of December 2011. Their second target is to have paid 95% of eligible claimants 95% of the estimated funds by the end of March 2012. Those who are unlikely to receive payment in December have been sent letters with a basic explanation as to why they will not be getting their money. About 8 versions of a similar letter have been sent out, some give reasons and estimated time scales for payments, and other letters give very little information. Claimants who received letters over the summer about dual claims between ELS/CSS and SPS appear to have missed out on early payments. Those who are subject to Entitlement checking may be waiting some time for payment. The 2011 SPS payment window extends through to the end of June 2012. Contact James at jamesmore@fcgagric.com for more information. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20120103progressinmaking2011sps.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20120103fertiliserspreadingefficiency.htm For more information contact Gerard Finnan at gerardfinnan@fcgagric.com. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20120103fertiliserspreadingefficiency.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20120103crosscompliancechecks.htm From 1 January 2012, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is taking over Competent Control Authority responsibilities for the cross compliance rules which are currently checked by the Environment Agency. This is in line with recommendations made in the recent Farming Regulation Task Force report. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20120103crosscompliancechecks.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20120103controlthecontrollable.htm Farming is subject to global trading and the powerful influence of large supermarkets, meaning that farmers have little or no control or influence over the price they receive for their products. Therefore focus on those things you can influence; costs. More acres, higher milk yield and greater livestock numbers do not guarantee success if they bring in extra costs. Quite often operations occur because ‘we've always done it that way.' Take a close look at everything you do and see how cost effective it is. Could it be done cheaper with a contractor? Do you need to do it at all? The most successful businesses look to make a return from all their assets, so make sure that all your investments are working for their living. Whilst some can benefit greatly from economies of scale, some are not and some of the most profitable farmers adopt simple systems on a small scale. For help with business planning speak to Patrick at patrickgodwin@fcgagric.com or your local FCG consultant. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20120103controlthecontrollable.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20120103anotherplanningsuccess.htm We have managed to assist a young couple in Derbyshire to achieve their dream. They purchased three acres twelve years ago, with a couple of tumble down sheds on them. Through hard work, part time jobs and (of course) some parental support they have just managed to achieve permanent planning permission for an agricultural dwelling to support the enterprise they have developed. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20120103anotherplanningsuccess.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111201ukmilkprices.htm During October, DairyCo reports that UK market prices for butter fell by £100/tonne to £3500/tonne, causing AMPE to fall back by 0.49ppl (1.5%) to 32.8ppl. IMPE is almost irrelevant to your farm-gate price as it is now languishing at 18.8ppl, although it too has fallen slightly of late. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111201ukmilkprices.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111201slugsstillamajorproblem.htm Slugs have been a small problem on the farm this autumn but now the population has grown vastly and will need to be controlled. A simple treatment with slug pellets will have a very quick impact on mollusc numbers and is quite cost effective, when compared with buying extra forage in. Organic farmers also have some products available to them and from experience they are effective, but speak to your advisor and organic licensing body to get the relevant derogation before you use any product. For further information on this please contact your FCG consultant or Tom Tolputt on 07976 185915 or at tomtolputt@fcgagric.com info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111201slugsstillamajorproblem.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111201onceadaymilking.htm As winter approaches with high grass covers on farms due to the mild winter so far and yields for cows due to calve next spring fall, it is well worth considering dropping to once per day milking. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111201onceadaymilking.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111201footbathsthefuture.htm The latest addition of Hoards Dairyman in the United States contained a fascinating article on the latest research into the design of footbaths. The article which is attached deals with a number of the issues, including water baths in front of treatment baths, dimensions and Wisconsin blueprint ideas, as well as a footbath calculator for concentration use. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111201footbathsthefuture.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111201feedingforbutterfat.htm With many herds now settling down onto a full winter ration, often an increase in the percentage of maize being fed will decrease the butterfat levels. There are numerous feed stuffs that will aid in increasing or decreasing butter fat levels in milk. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111201feedingforbutterfat.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111201dowereallyknowwhatisbestforcows.htm Do we always know what's best for cows? We read a lot in the press about research done on what cows like, housing and cow comfort. All of these things are important in maximising the output of dairy herds. One simple thing you can do when checking the cows at night is a comfort score on your cubicles. I do this when I do my own night checks for the dairy herd and if I go into a group of cows and there are more than 10% of the cows in that group standing in the cubicles, perching half in half out of the cubicles or standing aimlessly in the passageway, I consider the overall comfort of the beds is lacking. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111201dowereallyknowwhatisbestforcows.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111201discussiongroups.htm The Sherborne office runs and facilitates nine discussion groups. Some meet monthly, others meet 1-2 times per year. Some focus on specific areas such as dairy, beef, and youngstock production systems. Others cover a variety of general topics such as energy efficiency, nutrient management, soil management, labour management, livestock housing and environment etc. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111201discussiongroups.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111201campaignforthefarmenvironment.htm Despite recent figures from Natural England revealing a 32% increase of CFE target options in Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) since the Campaign began, it would seem that unless there is a dramatic change of mind by many farmers, the Campaign will significantly miss its targets in June 2012. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111201campaignforthefarmenvironment.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111201becarefulwithyournvzrecordkeeping.htm Take great care in ensuring that your farm complies with the organic manure and manufactured fertiliser closed periods and that your record keeping does not shoot you in the foot. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111201becarefulwithyournvzrecordkeeping.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111101whendomestickerosenesupplies.htm Supplies of not more than 2,300 litres of fuel oil, gas oil or kerosene are subject to the reduced rate of 5%. In excess of this and the rate is 20% which, for domestic use the business cannot claim the VAT or at best a small proportion in relation to the business use of the house. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111101whendomestickerosenesupplies.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111101wantedcombinesforsales.htm If you have a New Holland large straw walker; or rotary combine; or a Claas rotary combine; between 1 and 5 seasons in age for sale, please call me or email me a full description. I have clients seeking to purchase good examples of these types of combine. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111101wantedcombinesforsales.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111101makingyourpensionfundwork.htm Tying money up in a poor performing pension fund is something that many farmers are reluctant to do, but there is no getting away from it, that farmers like everyone else; need to provide a pot of money to fund retirement if they are not going to become a drain on the farm in future generations. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111101makingyourpensionfundwork.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111101eucapreform.htm The EU Commission published its proposals for the next CAP reform on 12th October. These had been widely leaked, and predictably lead to Defra Secretary - Caroline Spelman - calling for more restraint in EU spending. It has been proposed by the Commission that the CAP budget should remain at £47bn pa from 2014 up to 2020. What is published is just a proposal and the final document will not be adopted until the end of 2012. Clearly, it could all be delayed further. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111101eucapreform.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111001takenonmoreland.htm For more information contact James More at jamesmore@fcgagric.com info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Sat, 01 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111001takenonmoreland.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111001hireorownmachinery.htm A lot of machinery investment in recent years has been made on the basis of fairly generous capital allowances, allowing many businesses to invest in machinery and write off 100% of the cost against tax. We are now currently in the last year of this scheme and the capital allowances for 2012 onwards are much less generous. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Sat, 01 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111001hireorownmachinery.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111001givingalittlecanmeanalot.htm Gift Aid donations have always been useful so far as tax credits are concerned! The gross value of donations entitles the donor to reduce their assessable income for tax credit purposes, meaning that the tax credit award can be increased and in some circumstances, bring entitlement to tax credits that would not otherwise be available because the claimant's income exceeds the relevant threshold. From April 2011, where household income is above £15,860, Gift Aid donations may give rise to increased entitlement to tax credits at the rate of 41% of the gross donation! This equates to 51.25% of the net Gift Aid donation made to the charity! info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Sat, 01 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111001givingalittlecanmeanalot.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111001bankstryingtoincrease.htm This headline is hardly news. But what is different now is that bank managers have been instructed by their bosses to try to increase earnings from stable, existing borrowers. This is because their earnings from many of you will be too low in accordance with their new criteria, given that they are all desperately trying to increase their profitability after the ongoing banking crisis. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Sat, 01 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111001bankstryingtoincrease.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111001announcement.htm We are pleased to announce that James More of our Louth office in Lincolnshire is to join forces with another successful Farm Business Consultancy Firm to further develop the services he provides. Active Business Partnerships operates predominantly on the Eastern side of the Country working in the Arable Farming, Renewable Energy and Agribusiness Sectors. James will be working closely with ABP consultants Hamish Bichan and Angus Bell to further improve the depth and range of advice he provides to his client base. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Sat, 01 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20111001announcement.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20110901increaseyourgrazingareaby25percent3.htm Are your beef and dairy youngstock exploiting the real value of grazed grass on your farm? Why not join a beef discussion group today and experience first-hand what is possible and add thousands of pounds profit to your livestock business by contacting Gerard at gerardfinnan@fcgagric.com ? info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20110901increaseyourgrazingareaby25percent3.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20110901SeasonalStationingofCaravansforFarmworkers1.htm Planning permission is required for most building or engineering works on, above or under land, subject of course to many rules and exemptions. As caravans are not legally "buildings", the stationing of a caravan on land does not necessarily need planning permission. Instead, caravans are subject to the Caravan Sites and Development Control Act 1960, and its amendments. Site licences are normally required. With regard to farming, the Act states that; "a site licence shall not be required for the use as a caravan site on agricultural land for the accommodation during a particular season of a person or persons employed in farming operations on land in the same occupation". info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20110901SeasonalStationingofCaravansforFarmworkers1.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20110901GivingyourRootstheBestChance.htm Results from over 29,000 soil samples submitted to the NRM Laboratories taken from grassland fields over the last 12 months make disturbing reading for anyone interested in improving grassland productivity. Only 30% and 29% of fields were at optimum index 2 for P and K respectively. At the same stage 42% and 34% were below the optimum index. A recent survey by EBLEX showed that only 9% of fields were at the optimum index for both P& K. At the same time, 50% of samples had a pH below the optimum pH of 6.0 - 6.2. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20110901GivingyourRootstheBestChance.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20110901FeedthehighyieldingDairycow.htm The months of August and September are typically the hardest to feed an all year round calving dairy herd. With day length shortening, grass quality and quantity being variable and with farms being very busy places, the attention to detail and intakes of cows can be compromised. This is usually shown up by reduction in milk protein, reduction in body condition of the dairy cow or simply less bulling activity being shown around the yards. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20110901FeedthehighyieldingDairycow.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20110901CAPReformtheshapeofthingstocome.htm With the first firm proposals for reform of the current CAP due this October a leak of a working document from Brussels may shed some light on what might be in store. Of course future negotiations by Farm Ministers and the European Parliament may alter the final outcome substantially. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20110901CAPReformtheshapeofthingstocome.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20110901AutumnGrasslandManagement.htm With grass growth rates at 50 kg/ha (end August in Dorset/Somerset), farmers who are not making silage and are not stocked greater than 2.5 cows/ha are increasing average farm covers by 70+kg/ha/week. After a dry year so far, what are the chances of a wet autumn? Have you a plan to maximise the use of this cheap feed with concentrates @ £200+/t. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20110901AutumnGrasslandManagement.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20110901AreYouintheClover.htm Now is the ideal time to assess whether you have enough white clover in your leys. For those of you who have chosen to rely on clover for your forage production you should be out checking density of crop. If you can see clover within 50 cm of your footfall on 75% of your inspections, you have enough to encourage it by management. The ideal target is 30% of the sward by weight in August, which due to white clover growth habit will look like 60% clover. Contact James at jamesshenton@fcgagric.com for more information. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20110901AreYouintheClover.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20110805DrySpringCashFlowDryingUp.htm Reality is now hitting. Do you know what the outcome of your harvest will be and this applies to grassland as well as arable farmers? Will the impact of harvest achieve the budget forecasts and will there be enough forage in the clamps? In many cases the answer to this is that there will be a shortfall. This may manifest itself as a shortage of feed which will have to be bought in or a shortfall in grain to sell or in the quality of produce marketed. In effect, these scenarios will all reflect on the budget and cash flow, causing some implications to the amount of borrowings. What are you going to do about this? Are you going to carry on blithely as if nothing has happened or are you going to have to modify or shelve a project for the moment? Now is a good time to start thinking of the consequences and make a new plan to get you back on track. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Fri, 05 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20110805DrySpringCashFlowDryingUp.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20110805-ToBufferorNottoBuffer2.htm Ensuring adequate fibre intake is the key to combating an acid silage. This stimulation of cudding will give you the best buffering effect for the lowest cost. The way to do this is to add longer fibre such as hay, straw or bale silage and make sure the cow eats it. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Fri, 05 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20110805-ToBufferorNottoBuffer2.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20110805-StaleSeedBedorCoverCrop.htm Organic arable farmers are used to having to create a stale seed bed after harvest, to encourage weed seeds to germinate. For many, this is achieved by early ploughing and a delayed drilling, there are a number of situations where this may not be the best option for several reasons. Early ploughing and lack of green cover, may result in increased leaching of nitrogen from the bare soil. Late drilling may also result in more soil erosion even when a rougher seed bed has been left. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Fri, 05 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20110805-StaleSeedBedorCoverCrop.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20110805-PlanAheadtoReseedGrasslandthisAutumn.htm The ground may be hard and the small amounts of rainfall are making minimal impression on grass growth, especially in the south and east of the country. Taking land out of production may be the last thing on your mind at present, when you require every acre of grass you farm, to feed your livestock. Re-seeding is one of the lowest cost and highest return investments on the farm and most farmers can re-seed some part of their farm each year, without a loss in production overall. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Fri, 05 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20110805-PlanAheadtoReseedGrasslandthisAutumn.htm http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20110805-PandKFertiliserRecommendationsforGrazedGrass.htm RB209 fertiliser recommendations for grazed grass are N 250Kg/Ha; P 20Kg/Ha; K 0Kg/Ha. RB209 clearly states that any additional P and K applications above the recommendations should only be applied following soil analysis. info@fcgagric.com (FCG) News Fri, 05 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.fcgagric.com/news/20110805-PandKFertiliserRecommendationsforGrazedGrass.htm